"The West Wing"

What started out as a three weekend shed project in May, ended up as "127 1/2 Feld Avenue" in this month. Robert and our neighbor Mike put endless hours of work into the building in the back yard. It can't be called a shed any longer, as just the front doors were more of an investment that my two pairs of designer jeans added together ;) However, when Robert wants to do something, he wants to do it right! We celebrated the completion with two days of painting and a bottle of champagne. Woo hoo :)

Hello....!?

Where have I been for the last couple of months!? I was such a dedicated blogger at the beginning of the summer...and then I fell off the wagon. Work picked back up for me, house projects took over my weekends, vacations happened, and then what other time I did have, I tried to do something mildly creative or spend time with friends. I think the responsibility I felt to recap all of that was just too overwhelming - and kept me far away from the blog. However, I'm back. Seriously.

Rebekah Getting Married

So, it finally arrived! Rebekah's big day :) And once again I was packing a suitcase and heading off to fun. This time, Mom was coming with us. Robert and I met her at the airport bright an early on Friday, June 5th. We arrived in Montego Bay, Jamaica just hours later! We found the swanky lounge for The Ritz-Carlton, Rose Hall at the airport, and got ourselved hydrated and checked in. A quick shuttle ride through the countryside, and we arrived at the property. Greeted with champagne, I knew we were off on the right foot!

We spent the afternoon by the pool getting caught up with all the people I hadn't seen in forever - and the people I just saw weeks ago at the bachlorette party! We had pool-side waiters, so there was really no need to do ANYTHING else! Before we knew it, it was time to get ready for the Rehearsal Dinner. We marched on up to our Lilly Pulitzer (or Pepto-Bismol - depending on who you ask) inspired room and cleaned up for the party. The dinner was great, with a slide show video of Rebekah and Jason growing up, and some toasts from friends and family to close out the evening.

Saturday was another quiet day at the pool. Robert and I did take a quick sail out on the resorts katamaran. It was so great to be back out on the Carribbean waters. It put the fire to get back to the Virgin Islands back in me!

Rebekah spent some girl time with friends and family on the beach, and then headed inside for Bride prep :) We had several more hours of sunbathing, and took full advantage.

The wedding ceremony that night was beautiful! I went to see Rebekah before hand and have to admit that I teared up. I guess it brought back ALL the good and bad and in between that we had been through together - and this was yet another milestone that we were together for. We had a cocktail hour post reception on the lawn by the beach and then moved in for the reception. After the introductions and first dances, everyone hit the dance floor, and stayed for the rest of the night. It was definitely a celebration :) I'm so happy that it was such a memorable event for the new McKinleys! I couldn't have been more happy for them. Or happy that my best friend had found her match :)

Good music to make dinner and drink wine to...or something like that ;)

I'd just like to say that I think Ray LaMontagne might be my all time new favorite artist. See below for the link.

"You Are The Best Thing" via YouTube

Mike's Bloody's

As a tribute to Mike Seeley, I'd like to share the Bloody Mary recipe that kept us all sane on our adventures last week:

• Vodka
• Clamato Juice
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Celery Salt
• Fresh Ground Pepper
• Slice of Lime

The proportions are up you you, but the more vodka the better :)
Enjoy!
LL

Woody Turns 30 - Finally!

As if the adventures in Utah weren't enough excitement for me - and a whole week off work didn't separate me from the real world - I left early Friday morning on a flight to Sarasota, FL - Long Boat Key. Andrea had gotten a house at the beach for the weekend, and had about 14 friends coming to celebrate. With exactly 11 hours to re-pack my suitcase, I was back at the airport to meet Jessica. When we arrived in Sarasota, we promptly began the party by renting a convertible Seabring for the weekend.

The weekend was so much fun. The minute we got there I started with the Blood Mary's again. The drinking continued all day - and all evening. Dinner was at Andrea's friend's place next door. Homemade fish tacos. They were AMAZING. We had wine and hung out on the porch to watch the sun go down. I have never in my life known that Andrea's brother Aaron could be so entertaining, but with he and her friend Chip, we easily laughed off all our dinner calories. The post-party was back at the house with lots of dancing to 80s music - Michael Jackson particularly. Who knew that just weeks later the dance videos would be such mementos! ;)

Saturday we spent the entire day at the beach. That night was Andrea's big dinner out. The post-party on Saturday was a bit calmer, as we were all worn out from being so fun the night before!? I guess old people only have so much party in them....

The following day Jessica and I had lunch with Nanny and Poppa, who live about 20 miles from Long Boat Key. It was so great to see them! I wish they lived closer :( Nanny reminded me that she wanted to see those twins - boys more specifically - so I'd better get moving. After lunch we packed it in and headed for the airport :( All is all it was a fantastic birthday celebration. No surprise there. It was also SO hard to get back into work mode that Tuesday. Again, no surprise. I heart vacations - and Andrea's birthday party.

"What are 'Hiking Outfits'?"

This is the exact way that the trip began for me. Sheer panic as to what I was going to need on this outdoor adventure, and how to pack it. I've got the beach trips down to a science, but it's been a long while since I've left the flip-flops and polo shirts at home for running shoes and khaki shorts! But, after a few last minute trips to Target and Old Navy, I was ready to go. We (Robert and I) were going to Southern Utah with Dad, Pam, Paul, Morgan and Ashland. Pam is from Utah, where her brother, Mike, still lives. He was to be our tour guide for the excursion, so we met he and his wife June in SLC. It was here that we were introduced to "the bar". This bar followed us around on our road trip via Mike's trunk. It was like Mary Poppin's magic bag - what ever you wanted, it was there. Bloody Marys and Gin and Tonics were the drinks of choice for the week. But we pulled out the occasional bottle of wine or vodka drink. The perfect medicine for a week of family time.

Our first stop was Moab, UT. I was so shocked by my reaction to the heights at Dead Horse Point and Schafer's Trail. It felt like with one big swoop of wind, I was going to be carried off the mountain. Or with one small slip of the wheel, the car would be sliding off the trail into the bottom of the canyon. I was really, truly the biggest wuss ever. The rest of the brave group coaxed me out on a few ledges, thank goodness, or I would have been a lost cause on that adventure. We also did a half-day rafting trip down the Colorado river. June actually got thrown out of the boat, which kept me holding on to the sides even tighter. Before leaving Moab for Boulder (UT), we made a stop at Arches National Park. One of the most famous Utah landmarks.

The drive to Boulder was about three hours, and a very different geography than the desert of Moab. It was much greener and cooler (temperature). We stopped at Goblin's Valley on the way, and got to be part of a rainstorm - in the desert! We also stopped to stock up on beef jerky, another Utah staple. It was actually really good. Especially with Bloody Mary ;) That night we had dinner at Hell's Backbone Grill and spent the night at the Bolder Mountain Lodge right next door. However, before bedtime we took a little road trip to see the Boulder airport. When we turned of the 'main' road for a dirt road, and wound around some trees for a mile or so, I was certain it was a joke. Well...it wasn't. We found ourself smack in the middle of the runway through the final clearing of trees, with the airport marker in plain view.

Then off to Bryce Canyon. By the end of the trip we were commenting on how guilty we felt for not oohing and ahhing about the amazing scenery anymore. I guess there was only so much to say. The rest we'll just have to keep in our memories!